Raiders Salvage Series with Saturday Wins of No. 21 Gulf Coast

NICEVILLE, Fla. — Northwest Florida kept its postseason hopes alive Saturday, earning a crucial doubleheader sweep over No. 21 Gulf Coast State with a 12-9 win in game one and a 5-1 victory in game two. The Raiders now await the outcome of Chipola's matchup with Pensacola to determine their postseason fate.

Northwest Florida's offense set the tone early in game one, erupting for an 11-1 advantage behind timely hitting and power at the plate. Despite a late push from the Commodores, the Raiders held firm to secure the win. In game two, a dominant outing on the mound and another fast start offensively sealed the sweep.

Game One: Northwest Florida 12, Gulf Coast 9
Brock Clayton delivered a standout performance, launching two home runs and driving in six runs to power the Raiders to victory. Clayton went deep in both the fourth and sixth innings as part of a 13-hit offensive showing for Northwest Florida.

The Raiders struck first in the opening inning when Clayton and Anthony Quigley each drove in a pair of runs to make it 4-0. After Gulf Coast answered with a solo home run in the second, Northwest Florida responded with three more runs in the bottom half, highlighted by RBI hits from Angel Santiago and Clayton, along with a sacrifice fly from Quigley.

The Raiders broke things open in the fourth inning, plating four runs behind home runs from Clayton and Sam Bradley to build a commanding lead. Clayton added another solo shot in the sixth to extend the advantage.

Gulf Coast mounted a late rally, including a three-run homer in the seventh, but Northwest Florida's pitching staff held on to close out the 12-9 win.

Eli Jones earned the start, allowing two runs over five innings while striking out five. Tucker Delisle and Brady Martin provided relief down the stretch. Quigley, Santiago, and Tristan Bittle each recorded multiple hits, while the Raiders were aggressive on the basepaths with six stolen bases and played error-free defense.

Game Two: Northwest Florida 5, Gulf Coast 1
Behind a complete-game performance from Bradley Garrett, the Raiders secured the series split with a 5-1 win in game two.

Northwest Florida jumped out early once again, scoring twice in the first inning on an RBI groundout from Orlando Fernandez and an RBI single by Quigley. The lead grew in the third when Fernandez launched a solo home run and Quigley delivered an RBI double to make it 4-0.

The Raiders added an insurance run in the fifth on an RBI single from Sam Bradley.

Garrett was in control throughout, tossing all seven innings while allowing just one run on six hits and striking out five.

Offensively, Quigley and Fernandez each collected two hits and drove in two runs, while Santiago added two hits and two stolen bases. The Raiders totaled nine hits and swiped four bases in the win.

With the sweep, Northwest Florida remains in contention as the regular season winds down, awaiting final results to determine its postseason positioning.